Be on the lookout for signs of a vision problem in your child

March break is quickly approaching, and while you may be getting the family ready for a vacation or planning fun activities to do with the children over the break – remember to keep your child’s vision care and eye health at top of mind.
Did you know that vision problems not only impact a child’s ability to perform in school, but also in their daily activities outside of the classroom? Look out for these warning signs over the March break – they could be signs that your child has an undetected vision problem:
Vision signs:

Squinting or blinking often

Eye rubbing

Tilting the head to the side on a frequent basis

Covering one eye

One eye that turns out or in

Reporting double vision

Behavioral signs:

Complaining of headaches, nausea, or eye fatigue

Poor hand-eye coordination

Short attention span

Avoids reading or any activity that requires close work

Behavioral issues that stem from frustration

Poor performance in academics and athletics

Experiences problems catching a ball

Appears clumsy or frequently bumps into things or drops things

It’s common for children to think that their vision is normal, and therefore they often won’t report their symptoms to their parents or teachers. That’s why it’s important to know what signs to look for and to have your child’s eyes checked regularly by an optometrist.
Only a comprehensive eye exam conducted by an optometrist can detect eye health and vision issues before it’s too late, because some conditions won’t show any obvious signs or symptoms. Early detection allows for an optometrist to successfully treat common conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (misaligned eyes), which are best managed while a child is still young.

Make sure that your child has the best possible chance for success, by adding a comprehensive eye exam to your family to-do list over the March break.

OAO recommends that children have their first eye exam at six months-old, another before starting junior kindergarten and annually thereafter, to ensure good vision and development. In Ontario, eye exams are covered by OHIP for children up to 19 years-old.
Find an optometrist near you.

ABOUT

The Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO) is the leading professional organization representing over 1,600 optometrists in Ontario for over 100 years. We are dedicated to helping our members provide the highest standard of eye health and vision care for Ontarians while driving the profession of optometry forward.